J1.5

Getting Started with Joomla!

From Joomla! Documentation

This Namespace has been archived - Please Do Not Edit or Create Pages in this namespace. Pages contain information for a Joomla! version which is no longer supported. It exists only as a historical reference, will not be improved and its content may be incomplete.

This series of documents introduces Joomla! to people who have not previously used it. This introduction aims to help you make the best use of the series.

Background

Which versions are covered?

There are two versions in common use:-

Version 1.5 is well established and widely used.

Version 1.6 was released early in 2011.

There are many similarities between the versions. They are presented separately to newcomers to Joomla! in order to present 'hands-on' material with clarity. This is the introduction to version 1.5. There is a separate series for version 1.6, as yet incomplete.

Who is it written for?

The series is for anyone who wants to use Joomla! at a number of levels. Its main focus is:-

on people with limited computing experience

on using Joomla! for a small web site, such as a club or association or small business

but

there are sections which will be useful to experienced designers and developers.

Introduction to the Getting Started series - Joomla! 1.5

Joomla! is introduced using detailed 'hands-on' instructions about adding, altering and manipulating content. At the same time, general points about Joomla! are made which are intended to help people to learn more and do more. As the tasks require more background knowledge, so there are fewer hands-on instructions and more general pointers to the extensive documentation available for Joomla!

The series divides into four parts:-

Hands-on a Joomla! site: There is an initial section on how to get 'hands-on' a Joomla! site. This is followed by practical instructions about doing key tasks needed for adding, altering and manipulating content on an existing site.

Setting up a Joomla! site: This has background information about the design of a Joomla! Web site. There is a hands-on section on the mechanics of creating a new site using the core features that come with Joomla!

Looking after a Joomla! site: This is a brief introduction to the day-to-day adminstration of a Joomla! web Site.

Doing more and learning more: The final part links into other documentation and is intended as a guide ahead for taking Joomla! beyond the basics.

Hands-on a Joomla! site

You must have the use of a Joomla! Web site to use 'hands-on' instructions. There are three possibilites:-

Hands-on adding and altering articles

Start here no matter what your previous experience. Articles are the building blocks of any Joomla! Web site and everyone needs to know the basics of how to edit and create them. And doing this helps you to understand the inner workings of Joomla!

How to edit an Article - aimed at helping everyone to use the editor and understand what articles look like and where they are stored.

Managing content using the Front-end of Joomla!

Setting up a Joomla! site

There is a distinction between the mechanics of setting up a new site and the things you need to know before you set up a site. There is often a trial and error process involved in doing this, with muddle and frustration as a result. The problem is that you cannot design a site without knowing some background: and it is often easiest to learn the background by using a site. So this series presents the background to understanding how Joomla! sites work separately from the mechanics of creating a site. It emphasises that some initial thought can save hassle later.

Background - things you need to know

These are hands-on documents to familiarise you with designing a new site. The background is separate so that the flow of creating the site is not interrupted by asides. The background is aimed at helping you to understand what is going on, whether you have a large or a small site.